DEPARTING Liverpool FC chief executive Rick Parry is to head up an inquiry looking into rooting out corruption in sports betting.

Parry has been named as the chairman of an expert panel which is expected to report within six months.

Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe has asked Parry’s panel to come up with a set of recommendations on how integrity in sports and associated betting can be upheld.

The panel is made up of top names from the betting world, the Gambling Commission, and legal experts.

It will look at the scale and the current risk to the integrity of sport through betting corruption, including how suspicious betting patterns are identified and assessed, in markets within and outside the UK.

Parry leaves his job at LFC at the end of the month after having joined the club in 1997, and it is no surprise that he has already lined up a high-profile appointment.

He will work for two days a month over the next six months, and says he is currently mulling over a few other ideas for further employment.

Last night, he said: “It is an interesting and challenging role. What’s quite interesting about this is that the minister of sport is being proactive in wanting to check that we are doing everything we can to protect integrity in sport.

“The paying public have a right to expect integrity in sport competitions.

“I don’t think there’s any suggestion there is widespread corruption in sport, but now is a good time to review it and I am delighted to have been asked to be involved.”